Process for preparing and therapeutical applications of the 2,4,6-triiodophenol

ABSTRACT

A method for treating a patient suffering from muscular or joint diseases caused by inflammation comprising the steps of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising 2,4,6-triiodophenol or the pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 680,694, filed on Dec. 12, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,124.

The present invention relates to 2,4,6-triiodophenol disclosed as a potent antiinflammatory and analgesic and at the same time as a potent antiatherosclerotic, hypocholesteronemic, hypolipemic, vasodilator and fluidifying-aggregate agent.

The 2,4,6-triiodophenol product is a yellowish crystalline powder, with a melting point of 157° C. not very soluble in water, somewhat soluble in organic dissolvents, as the ethylic and propylic alcohols, acetone and sulfuric ether and very soluble in chloroform and dichloromethane. It is also soluble in alkali solutions.

The 2,4,6-triiodophenol is known since many years ago, for instance Rosenthaler, Capuano Pharm. Acta Helv. 21 (1946)-225, but up to now no practical applications in the industrial or commercial field were found.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is the application of the 2,4,6-triiodophenol as a potent and efficacious antiinflammatory and analgesic, specially by parenteral administration, in human as well as in veterinary therapeutic.

The product applied via parenteral administration, at a dosage of 1 mg/kg produces effects which are comparable and even higher than the effects of other classical antirheumatics as the aspirin and the indomethacin at therapeutic dosages.

The preferred administration is via parenteral, particularly via intramuscular, but also other ways give quite efficacious results, as oral, rectal and cutaneous administration. Consequently it is also an object of the present invention the therapeutical application of the 2,4,6-triiodophenol, as well as the pharmaceutical compositions containing as active principle the 2,4,6-triiodophenol, associated with excipients specially conceived for the administration in the form of pharmaceutical preparations, and according to each case in the injectable form, tablets, syrups, lotions, suppositories, pomades, collyria, etc.

Another object of the invention is the application of the 2,4,6-triiodophenol in the treatment of cases of cerebral vascular insufficiency, coronary insufficiency and ventricular function hepatic insufficiency and portal hypertension and chronic ischemia of the lower extremities. Parenteral administration is preferred, particularly the intramuscular way, but also other vias are efficacious, as oral and rectal administration, at daily and unit dosages of 0.5 mg/Kg by corporal weight.

Finally it constitutes also an object of the present invention the process for preparing the 2,4,6-triiodophenol, starting from the phenol and iodizing the same directly being of advantage the capacity of the hydrogen peroxide of catalysing the substitution by iodine of the aromatic hydrogens (particularly benzenics) when using a reaction medium which is not very hydrated and acid. The iodization with periodic acid and potassium iodine, in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, reveals also very good results.

The following examples illustrate the invention for the process for preparing the product, as well as for the evaluation of its pharmaceutical and pharmacological properties, and for preparing unit dosage forms for therapeutic administration.

EXAMPLE 1 Obtention of the 2,4,6-triiodophenol

(a) Direct iodization of the phenol.

564 g (6 moles) of phenol and 2284 g (18 equivalents) of iodine, dissolved in 4000 ml methanol are introduced into a reactor of three outlets, provided with a water bath, stirrer, cooler at reflux, thermometer and admixing funnel. 400 ml sulfuric acid was added and the mixture is heated up to 60° C. 900 ml hydrogen peroxide at 30% was added gradually, maintaining the temperature between 60° and 65° C. After the admixing it is under reaction during 4 to 5 hours, maintaining the indicated temperature. Heating is discontinued and the mixture is allowed to stand for 24 hours. The formed precipitate is filtered and vacuum dried. The obtained crude is recrystallized with hot methanol and filtered and washed with a methanol/water solution in a ratio of 3/1. About 1250 g of the product was obtained with a melting point of 158°-159° C. (yield: 43/44%). The NMR spectrum, as well as the mass spectrum correspond to 2,4,6-triiodophenol.

(b) Iodization by means of periodic acid/iodide.

25.6 g periodic acid (133 moles) was dissolved in 600 ml concentrated sulfuric acid, cooled exteriorly with ice.

55.8 g potassium iodide (336 moles) was added in small portions, and afterwards 12.2 g phenol (128 moles).

The mixture was left during one night under stirring.

It is poured onto ice, the obtained precipitate is filtered and triturated with ethanol to eliminate the excess of iodine.

560 g of pure product (yield: 45%) with features identical to the ones of the product obtained by the former method are obtained by recrystallization in acetone/chloroform.

EXAMPLE 2

Clinical effects with regard to the cardiovascular apparatus.

The technology used to show the hemodynamic changes was of the non-invasive type, as in this way experiments can be repeated and are completely innoxious for the patient. Of all the non-vasive methods of diagnosis we selected the most reliable of actual conditions, which is the method of ultrasounds (echo and Doppler's effects). The bidimensional echocardiography in real time, combined with pulsatile Doppler and the bidimensional vascular echography combined with pulsatile Doppler hemodynamic, are actually the two most reliable non-invasive techniques for the study of the anatomic changes and macroscopic hemodynamics with regard to the cardiovascular apparatus. That's why we used for the study of the clinical effects of the 2,4,6-triiodophenol an echo-Doppler trade mark ATL (Mark V), being the transmission frequency of 3 MHz, as well as a continuous Doppler trade mark SONICAID of 4 and 8 MHz.

There have been chosen four vascular territories of our organism:

(1) Cerebral circulation

(2) Intracardiac circulation

(3) Portal-caval circulation

(4) Peripheral circulation in the lower extremities.

Patients were divided in four statistically acceptable groups (50 in each group), comparing the results obtained with this medicament before, during and after the treatment.

Methodologically there are practiced echographical cuts in real time of the heart, big vases, supra-aortic trunks, abdominal aorta, portal and caval systems and iliac and femoral arteries, obtaining fluxmetric samples Doppler in all the mentioned cardiac cavities and blood vessels to study the sense of the flow, outflow (stream) or volume of flow and the hemodynamic features of the sanguineous flow.

All these works disclosed that the 2,4,6-triiodophenol acts onto:

(1) the vascular parietal dynamic of the carotid arteries of already older patients and who present cerebral vascular insufficiency.

(2) The speed of the flow and volume of flow with regard to the primitive and internal carotid arteries, studying the variations which experiments the cerebral circulation in patients with cerebral vascular insufficiency.

(3) The ventricular function in ill persons with dilated-congestive or ischemic cardiopathy, thus showing the intracardiac hemodynamic changes which experiment the precharge, the charge and the post-charge.

(4) The parietal dynamic of the portal system in patients with hepatic insufficiency or portal hypertension.

(5) The speed of hepatic flow and volume of flow measured in the portal system and hepatic artery in the patients as mentioned under (4).

(6) The parietal dynamic of the aortoiliac and iliofemoral sectors in patients affected by intermittent claudication.

(7) The speed of flow and volume of flow of the lower extremities in patients with ischemia in the lower members.

Hereunder we expose the clinical results obtained after the administration during three months of the 2,4,6-triiodophenol in 200 cardiovascular patients.

Sick persons were divided in 4 groups; (1) 50 patients with cerebral vascular insufficiency, (2) 50 patients with coronary insufficiency, (3) 50 patients with hepatic insufficiency and (4) 50 patients with peripheral vascular insufficiency of the lower extremities. All these persons received an intramuscular administration, a dosage of 30 mg/day of 2,4,6-triiodophenol, carrying out controls at the first, second and third month of all angiohemodynamic parameters, supposing a total of 600 controls (150 per each group after the three months).

The obtained results are summarized in a statistical way in the following tables.

    ______________________________________                                         I - Structure: vascular wall.                                                  Action: Antiatherosclerotic.                                                                Variation                                                                      (Δ %) first                                                                      Postmedication                                            Parameter      month     2nd month 3rd month                                   ______________________________________                                         DISTENSIBILITY +17%      +27%      +30%                                        PORTAL CAROTID                                                                 AORTA                                                                          DISTENSIBILITY  +7%      +11%      +14%                                        THORACIC AORTA                                                                 DISTENSIBILITY +18%      +29%      +31%                                        ABDOMINAL AORTA                                                                DISTENSIBILITY +12%      +28%      +29,5%                                      CAVAL ILIAC                                                                    ARTERY                                                                         average value              +26%                                                DISTENSIBILITY +15%      +29,5%    +32%                                        PORTAL VEIN                                                                    DISTENSIBILITY  +7%      +12%      +15%                                        POST CAVAL                                                                     SYSTEM                                                                         average value              +24%                                                ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         II - Structure: vascular surface.                                              Action: vasodilatory.                                                                        Variation                                                                      (Δ %) 1st                                                                       Postmedication                                            Parameter       month    2nd month 3rd month                                   ______________________________________                                         VASCULAR CALIBER                                                                               +11%     +12%      +13%                                        PORTAL CAROTID                                                                 AORTA                                                                          VASCULAR CALIBER                                                                               +3%       +7%       +9%                                        THORACIC AORTA                                                                 VASCULAR CALIBER                                                                               +6%      +11%      +13%                                        ABDOMINAL AORTA                                                                VASCULAR CALIBER                                                                               +8%      +12%      +15%                                        CAVAL ILIAC                                                                    ARTERY                                                                         VASCULAR CALIBER                                                                               -13%     -23%      -26%                                        PORTAL SYSTEM                                                                  VASCULAR CALIBER                                                                               -9%      -14%      -13%                                        POSTCAVAL SYSTEM                                                               ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         III - Function: Velocity.                                                      Action: Fluidifying + hemodynamizing.                                                       Variation                                                                      (Δ %) 1st                                                                        Postmedication                                            Parameter      month     2nd month 3rd month                                   ______________________________________                                         SPEED OF FLOW  +11%      +14       +19                                         PORTAL CAROTID                                                                 AORTA                                                                          SPEED OF FLOW  +2%       +3        +5                                          THORACIC AORTA                                                                 SPEED OF FLOW  +3        +5        +7                                          ABDOMINAL AORTA                                                                SPEED OF FLOW  +7        +11       +14                                         CAVAL ILIAC                                                                    ARTERY                                                                         Average value              +11%                                                SPEED OF FLOW  +16%      +21%      +29%                                        PORTAL SYSTEM                                                                  SPEED OF FLOW  +8%       +12%      +15%                                        POSTCAVAL SYSTEM                                                               Average value              +17%                                                ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         IV - Function: waste                                                           Action: peripheral hyperemia.                                                              Variation                                                                      (Δ %) 1st                                                                        Postmedication                                             Parameter     month     2nd month  3rd month                                   ______________________________________                                         CEREBRAL      +23%      +27,6%     +34%                                        MINUTE VOLUME                                                                  CARDIAC WASTE  +5%       +6%       +11%                                        LOWER EXTREMITY                                                                              +10%      +24%       +30%                                        MINUTE VOLUME                                                                  HEPATIC       +24%      +16%       +23%                                        MINUTE VOLUME                                                                  (venous)                                                                       ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         V - Function: Pressure                                                         Action: Hypotensor.                                                                         Variation                                                                      (Δ %) 1st                                                                        Postmedication                                            Parameter      month     2nd month 3rd month                                   ______________________________________                                         SYSTEMIC       -3%        -5%       -6%                                        ARTERIAL PRESSURE                                                              PORTAL PRESSURE                                                                               -8%       -11%      -13%                                        ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         VI - Cardiac contractility                                                     Action: inotropic effect.                                                                   Variation                                                                      (Δ %) 1st                                                                        Postmedication                                            Parameter      month     2nd month 3rd month                                   ______________________________________                                         TELESYSTOLIC   +8%        +11%     +13%                                        VOLUME                                                                         TELEDIASTOLIC  -3%         -5%     -6%                                         VOLUME                                                                         EJECTION       -9%       -8,4%     -8%                                         VOLUME                                                                         EJECTION FRACTION                                                                             -9,1%     -8,8%     -8,6%                                       ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         VII - Function Fat in the blood                                                Action: Hypocholesterinemic.                                                              Variation (3)                                                                           Postmedication                                             Parameter    1st month  2nd month  3rd month                                   ______________________________________                                         CHOLESTEROL  --         --         -15%                                        TRIGLYCERIDES                                                                               --         --         -12%                                        ______________________________________                                    

CONCLUSIONS

The before mentioned values and results show that the 2,4,6-triiodophenol has a potent and efficacious ANTIATHEROSCLEROTIC action, improving considerably the parietal dynamic of all arteries (26%) and veins (24%). The product shows also an efficacious and potent FLUIDIFYING-HEMIDYNAMIZING action, as the speed of the sanguineous flow increased in 11% in the arteries and in 17% in the veins. Finally there could be found an efficacious and potent HYPEREMIANT action, increasing the volume of flow systemic circulatory minute (11%), cerebral (34%), hepatic (23%) and of the lower member (30%). The product subject of the invention does not produce any toxic effect or secondary effects of clinical importance in none of the patients after the three months administration. Besides it has been shown that the iodine concentration of the product does not alter the thyroid function.

EXAMPLE 3 Antiinflammatory Action

(A) The antiinflammatory action is shown in white rats, of a weight of about 200-225 g, having provoked in these animals the leg oedema by means of an injection in the sole of the foot of 0.1 ml of a 1% Carregeenin solution.

One control group of ten animals, another the same medicated with indomethacin via oral at 30 mg/kg, in suspension in a carboxymethylcellulose solution, another group of ten rats, medicated with triiodophenol in oral solution at 5 mg/kg, another group medicated with triioodophenol at 1 mg/kg, injected via intramuscular and another group medicated with triiodophenol at 0.5 mg/kg via intramuscular. All medications are administered simultaneously to the formation of Edema.

The volume of the same is measured at 0 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours and 6 hours with a mercury Plestimograph.

The following Table indicates us the obtained average values:

    ______________________________________                                                   0 hours                                                                              3 hours 4 hours  5 hours                                                                              6 hours                                 ______________________________________                                         Control group                                                                              9         18,2    19,8   21,2                                                                               22                                    Indomethacin 10                                                                            --      59      63     69    73                                    mg/kg oral. %                                                                  inhibition                                                                     Triiodophenol 5                                                                            --      43      50     57    65                                    mg/kg oral. %                                                                  inhibition                                                                     Triiodophenol 1                                                                            --      65      66     75    82                                    mg/kg inj. %                                                                   inhibition                                                                     Triiodophenol 0,5                                                                          --      20      42     49    60                                    mg/kg inj. %                                                                   inhibition                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

(B) To a group of 10 rats of about 200-225 g is implanted at the dorsal zone, subcutaneously, balled cotton (about 9 mg) impregnated and afterwards dried with a solution of medicamentous substance and which amount is known.

We use as reference Dexamethasone and controls without medicament.

After 72 hours, once the animal is sacrificed, the granuloma formed around the implant is extracted and weighed, after drying at 100° C.

The antiinflammatory reduces the weight of the granuloma.

    ______________________________________                                                    Dose per implant                                                                             % Reduction of the                                    Medicament (micrograms)  granuloma (Average)                                   ______________________________________                                         Dexamethansone                                                                             10           16                                                    Dexamethansone                                                                             20           28                                                    Dexamethansone                                                                             40           30                                                    Triiodophenol                                                                             100           19                                                    Triiodophenol                                                                             200           28                                                    Triiodophenol                                                                             400           44                                                    ______________________________________                                    

Analgesic action

(A) To control analgesic activity we use mice of about 25 g by weight, in groups of ten mice, subjected to the test of the hot plate at 56° C.

Animals receive a medicamentous injection of 0.1 ml of solubilized aspirin with sodium bicarbonate, or of solubilized triiodophenol at pH 9'5.

Controls receive physiologic serum.

The time in which the animals indicate sensation of pain is measured with a chronometer.

In the hereunder table the results testing animals, 15 min. and 30 min. after the medication. Average values are taken of each group.

    ______________________________________                                                        15 minutes                                                                             30 minutes                                              ______________________________________                                         Controls         4,6    sec.   4,6    sec.                                     Acetyl salicylic acid                                                                           4,3    sec.   6,8    sec.                                     500 mg/kg                                                                      Triiodophenol 10 mg/kg                                                                          11,7   sec.   11,8   sec.                                     Triiodophenol 1 mg/kg                                                                           6,5    sec.   6,7    sec.                                     ______________________________________                                    

(B) WRITHING SYNDROME TEST

Irritant substance: acetic acid at 0.5% injected via intraperitoneal.

Foundation of the method consists in provoking a dolorous syndrome by pulling and torsion of the stomach and the hind legs of the animals.

These pullings or stretchings are calculated during a certain time, using it as the measure of the provoked ache.

Mice of about 22 g by weight were used, animals were left under abstinence during 24 hours before carrying out the test.

Mice were previously selected as to each individual response to the dolorous stimulus provoked by an intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 ml of an acetic acid aqueous solution at the 0.5%. Valid animals for realizing the test are those which respond within a margin of 15-35 pullings in about 5 to 15 minutes after the injection. The remaining animals are not useful.

PROTOCOL

Medication is realized via oral with the help of an esophageal cannula.

White lot: Administration of 0,1 ml of CMC 1% for each 10 g of corporal weight.

2,4,6-triiodophenol lot: Administration of 10 mg/kg of the product, suspended in CMC of 1%.

Aspirin-Lysin lot (Solusprin): Administration of 500 mg/kg aspirin, dissolved at 1%.

After medication, one has to wait 20 minutes for injecting 0.2 ml acetic adid of 0.5% via intraperitoneal, calculating the number of pullings during 5 minutes. After 60 and 100 minutes injection of acetic acid is repeated and pullings are calculated during 5 minutes.

RESULTS

The test was carried out in 9 mice in each lot.

    __________________________________________________________________________                      20'          30'          100'                                           NUMBER                                                                               TOTAL No.    TOTAL No.    TOTAL No.                                      ANIMALS                                                                              PULLINGS                                                                              % INHIB.                                                                             PULLINGS                                                                              % INHIB.                                                                             PULLINGS                                                                              % INHIB.                     __________________________________________________________________________     WHITE      9     121   --     56     --    65     --                           2,4,6-TRIIODO-                                                                            9     14    88,4   9      83,9  9      86,1                         PHENOL 10 mg/kg                                                                ASPIRIN 500 mg/kg                                                                         9     12    90     6      89,2  6      99,7                         __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR1##                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF 175 CLINIC CASES TREATED WITH 2,4,6-TRIIODOPHENOL

    __________________________________________________________________________                    TOTAL TREATED                                                                             % OBTAINED RESULTS                                   DISEASES       PATIENTS   E. B.  R.  N.                                        __________________________________________________________________________     VERTEBRAL ARTHROSIS                                                                           56         83,33                                                                             10,42                                                                              6,25                                                                               --                                        CERVICAL ARTHROSIS                                                                            34         90,34                                                                              3,22                                                                              3,22                                                                               3,22                                      LUMBAR ARTHROSIS                                                                               4          50                                                                               25  25  --                                        KNEE ARTHROSIS 16         81,25                                                                             12,5                                                                               6,25                                                                               --                                        HIP ARTHROSIS  13         53,85                                                                             23,10                                                                              23,10                                                                              --                                        OBLITERANT ARTHROSIS                                                                           1         100                                                                               --  --  --                                        CEREBRAL ATHERO-                                                                              37         81,25                                                                              6,25                                                                              9,35                                                                               3,15                                      SCLEROSIS                                                                      OBLITERANT ATHERO-                                                                            14         92,85                                                                              7,15                                                                              --  --                                        SCLEROSIS                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL NUMBER OF TREATED PATIENTS                                                                       175                                                    (E) EXCELLENT                                                                            RESULT        145 (82,86%)                                           (B) GOOD  RESULT        13 (7,43%)                                             (R) REGULAR                                                                              RESULT        14 (8,00%)                                             (N) NULL  RESULT        3 (1,71%)                                         

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of tablets containing as active substance the 2,4,6-triiodophenol

1000 tablets containing each one 10 mg of 2,4,6-triiodophenol are prepared as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         2,4,6-triiodophenol 10         g                                               microcrystalline cellulose                                                                         185        g                                               Silica              19         g                                               Magnesium stearate  6          g                                               ______________________________________                                    

The homogenized and compacted mixture is compressed to produce 1000 tablets of 0.22 g containing each one 0.09 g of active substance.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of gelatin capsules of No. 1 containing as active substance the 2,4,6-triiodophenol

1000 gelatin capsules containing each one 10 mg of 2,4,6-triiodophenol are prepared of:

    ______________________________________                                         2,4,6-triiodophenol                                                                               10         g                                                microcrystalline cellulose                                                                        55         g                                                Silica             3          g                                                Magnesium stearate 2          g                                                ______________________________________                                    

The screened and homogenized mixture is introduced into the capsules, dosified at 70 mg in a suitable filling machine.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of 10, l of syrup containing as active substance the 2,4,6-triiodophenol

10 l syrup containing 50 mg of 2,4,6-triiodophenol (each dose 5 ml) are prepared with the following components:

    ______________________________________                                         2,4,6-triiodophenol                                                                              100         g                                                Lysin             200         g                                                Saccharose        7000        g                                                Glycerin          500         g                                                Sodium chloride   80          g                                                Methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate                                                                         10          g                                                Isopropyl-p-hydroxybenzoate                                                                      2           g                                                Sorbic acid       10          g                                                Distillated water necessary amount for                                                         10        liters                                               ______________________________________                                    

This syrup can be coloured and aromatized.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of 1000 injectable ampoules, containing as active substance the 2,4,6-triiodophenol

1000 injectable ampoules containing each one 10 mg of 2,4,6-triiodophenol are prepared with:

    ______________________________________                                         2,4,6-triiodophenol                                                                              10          g                                                Lysin             20          g                                                Sodium chloride   35          g                                                Water for injectables                                                                            5000        ml                                               ______________________________________                                    

Sterlization is carried out and dosified at 5 ml. 

What we claim is:
 1. A method of treating a patient suffering from muscular or joint diseases caused by inflammation, which comprises administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising 2,4,6-triiodophenol or pharmacologically acceptable addition salts thereof, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 2. A method of treating a patient as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disease is rheumatism.
 3. A method of treating a patient as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disease is joint inflammation.
 4. A method of treating a patient as claimed in claim 1, wherein a dosage of from 0.5 to 5 mg/kg of body weight, of said composition is administered to said patient.
 5. A method of treating a patient as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composition is administered by intramuscular injection. 